Phone: (228) 435-6105
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Bachelor of Music Education, University of Southern Mississippi (1999); Master of Music Education, University of Southern Mississippi (2002); Educational Specialist Degree, Auburn University (2019)
Mr. Travis Coakley
Google Classroom Codes
- Wind Ensemble: hpikwzr
- Symphonic Band: kofvbsy
- Concert Band 1: jno5wwy
- Concert Band 2: kjw7j26
- Marching Band: dc572w7
- Jazz Band: qtpmp6t
- Colorguard: q2duxix
- 8th Grade Band: kq6mupb
Mr. Travis Coakley - Fine & Performing Arts Director / Director of Bands
Mr. Coakley directs the 240-member Biloxi High School marching band, conducts the award-winning Biloxi Wind Ensemble, and oversees the entire Biloxi Band program. He is currently serving on the Executive Board of the American School Band Director’s Association as National President-Elect, a High School Representative on the Board of Directors for the National Band Association, a contributing staff member for the Phi Beta Mu national newsletter, and as Past-President of the Gulf Coast Band Director's Association. Mr. Coakley is also the current President of the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education which works to bring a quality arts education to all K-12 students in the State of Mississippi and serves on the Mississippi Teacher's Advisory Council to the Department of Education.
Mr. Coakley was named the "Thad Cochran Distinguished Arts Educator for Music" in the state of Mississippi (2013), the Biloxi Bay Chamber of Commerce Secondary Teacher of the Year (2013-2014), Biloxi Public School District Teacher of the Year (2013-2014), Biloxi High School Teacher of the Year (2013-2014) and (2019-2020), the Gulf Coast Band Director's Association High School Band Director of the Year (2013-2014), and one of SBO's 50 "Director's Who Make a Difference" in 2014.
Biloxi High School is an annual recipient of the Mississippi Bandmaster’s Association Sweepstakes Award, was named a GRAMMY Signature School Semi-Finalist for the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 school years, and in 2015 was named by the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education as its "School of Excellence" for making arts an essential part of education. The Biloxi Public School District was named by the NAMM Foundation as one of the "Best Communities for Music Education" in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 and received the SupportMusic Merit Award by the NAMM Foundation in 2015.
The Biloxi High School marching band has recently performed in the Macy’s Holiday Parade at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL, the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington, D.C., the 6ABC Dunkin Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, PA, and was a State Marching Band Championship Finalist in 2017.
The Biloxi Wind Ensemble has performed at the ASBDA National Convention, the University of Alabama Honor Band Clinic, the William Carey University Honor Band Clinic, the Music For All Concert Band Regional in Lafayette, LA, Festival Disney at Walt Disney World in Orlando, and was the first high school band in Mississippi to perform a joint concert with the University of Southern Mississippi Wind Ensemble. In 2014 the Wind Ensemble was named a National Commended Award winner by the Foundation for Music Education “Mark of Excellence” project.
Prior to coming to Biloxi, Mr. Coakley served as the Director of Bands at Irmo High School in Columbia, South Carolina (2008-2011), Associate Director of Bands at J.M. Tate High School in Cantonment, Florida (2003-2008), Assistant Director of Bands at Miami Coral Park High School in Miami, Florida (2002-2003), and Assistant Director of Bands at North Forrest High School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi (1999-2001).
Mr. Coakley is a graduate of Auburn University (Educational Specialist, 2019) and the University of Southern Mississippi (Bachelor of Music Education, 1999, Master of Music Education, 2002). His professional memberships include Phi Beta Mu (PBM), the American School Band Director's Association (ASBDA), National Band Association (NBA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Mississippi Bandmaster's Association (MBA), Mississippi Music Educator’s Association (MMEA), Gulf Coast Band Director's Association (GCBDA) and the International Trombone Association (ITA).
